Calisthenics device



April 16, 1935. P. E. DRAHEIM i398,226

CALISTHENICS DEVICE Filed March 24, 1933 aul E. Diaheim INVENTOR BYWM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to calisthenic devices.

The many types and forms of calisthenic apparatus of today are of limited utility. In the main, they are incapable of use except for the certain specific exercises for which each may have been designed. This and their cost has precluded an extensive adoption and use thereof by the general public.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive calisthenic device having a substantially unlimited range of use and providing numberless forms of exercise for both the major and minor muscles of the human body. This I have accomplished by the production of an endless strip of elastic material, whose universal flexibility, resiliency, strength, andenergy absorbing capacity are such as to render it peculiarly fitted for all forms of calisthenic exercises.

Other objects and advantages will appear, either expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a calisthenic device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views on a smaller scale portraying four of the numberless forms of exercises which may be performed with the device shown in Fig. 1; V

The calisthenic device selected for illustration comprises an endless strip or band ID of live rubber and preferably of relatively thin flat stock, although rectangular, triangular, or even round stock might be employed without greatly impairing the utility or advantages of the device.

The device may be built in several sizes and of various weights to suit the individual requirements of the user, but in general the size, weight and energy absorbing capacity thereof is such that a force of from twenty to fifty pounds is ordinarily required to stretch the same to any of the several lengths indicated in Figs. 2 to 5, and the device may be so stretched without approaching its elestic limit. The device is thus of suflicient capacity to effectively exercise the major muscles of the human body.

The device shown is provided with a neck receiving opening H which is used to position the same when performing certain exercises, such, for instance, as those portrayed in Figs. 2 and 4. Similar additional openings may be provided for receiving the hands and feet of the user.

The exercise portrayed in Fig. 2 is intended primarily to develop the muscles of the shoulders, chest, back and arms. With the device positioned by the neck opening and distended by the hands and feet, in the manner indicated, the arms may be swung either vertically or horizontally or both to effectively exercise those muscles, or the arms may be bent and straightened alternately to effectively exercise the biceps.

The exercise portrayed in Fig. 4 is intended todevelop those muscles employed in boxing, the arms being thrust forward alternately against the resistance of those portions of the device which are stretched between the neck and the feet.

In the exercise portrayed in Fig. 3 all the major muscles of the body are brought into action, as the arm supporting the stretched device is elevated to a maximum height and then lowered, alternately.

As portrayed in Fig. 5, the device may be stretched between the feet and hands with the arms extending upwardly and rearwardly so as to effectively exercise the abdominal muscles.

The foregoing are only a few of the numberless forms of exercise that may be performed with the device shown. The severity of the exercise may in any instance be increased readily by merely wrapping the device around a foot or hand or by otherwise foreshortening the same.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A calisthenic device comprising a single continuous strip of live rubber of a size, strength, stretchability, and consequent energy absorbing capacity to effectually exercise the major muscles of the human body, said strip having an opening formed therein to receive a member of the body.

2. A calisthenic device comprising a single continuous strip of flat rubber of a size, strength, and energy absorbing capacity to effectually exercise the major muscles of the human body, said strip having a neck receiving opening formed therein.

3. A calisthenic device comprising a single continuous band of live rubber of a normal length materially less than its intended user and manually stretchable to a length materially greater than said user, and an opening formed in said band to receive the neck of the user to position the band.

PAUL E. DRAHEIM. 

